thank you. >> thank you very much, and now invite the honorable president obama to say a few words. >> thank you so much. good evening to the people of thailand who have welcomed me so graciously, let me say-- i will say that the prime minister's english is much better than my thai, but i want to say thank you so much, madam prime minister, for your very warm welcome, your generous words and the sense of partnership that you bring to our work today. as you indicated, asia is my first foreign trip since our election in the united states and thailand is my first stop and this is no accident. as i've said many times the united states and always will be a pacific nation and the fastest growing region in the world tit will shape the prosperity in the century ahead and critical to creating jobs and opportunity for the american people and that's why i've made restoring american engagement inhis region a top priority as president. at cornerstone of our strategy is our strong and enduring treaty alliances which includes our alliance with thailand. thailand is america's oldest friend and nation